Nassau H.S. sports Hall of Fame grows

Don McPherson starred at West Hempstead High School, winning the Thorp Award as a senior, as well as at Syracuse University.

Courtesy Syracuse University Athletics

By Tony Bellissimo

The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame, soon to be located at the new Nassau Coliseum, recently announced its third class of inductees, led by Olympic gold medalist hurdler Derrick Adkins and numerous former NFL players. This year’s class is composed of 31 inductees, including 13 athletes and 10 coaches. An induction ceremony will be held Sept. 27 at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Here’s a breakdown of the athletes and coaches of the 2017 class.

ATHLETES

DERRICK ADKINS: A 1998 Malverne High School graduate, Adkins was the New York State champion in the 400m hurdles in 1987 and 1988. He became the USA champion in 1994 and 1995, and the Olympic Gold Medalist in 1996. He has a street named after him in Lakeview.

HANK BJORKLUND: A three- sport star and to this day the 1968 graduate is regarded as the best athlete in the history of North Shore High School. He was a three-time All-Division baseball player and twice earned All-Division honors on the basketball court.

CRYSTAL BOYD: A star on the softball field, Boyd was a 1990 graduate of East Meadow High School. As a senior, she hit .796 with a Long Island-record 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in only 19 games. She was also a two-time All-County volleyball player.

STEPHEN BOYD: A giant on the gridiron for Valley Stream Central High School, Boyd helped lead the Eagles to the 1989 Conference II championship while earning the Thorp Award as the top football player in Nassau County. He went on to Boston College and the NFL’s Detroit Lions.

JOHN DeTOMMASO: A 1982 graduate of Farmingdale High School, he was a two-time All-County linebacker on the gridiron. A four-year varsity lacrosse player, he was voted to the U.S. Lacrosse H.S. All-American team as a senior, and named the top defenseman in Nassau County.

WARREN KOEGEL: A 1967 graduate of Seaford High School, he played football, basketball and baseball. In 1966, Koegel was named to the All-Division, All-South Shore, All-County, All-Long Island and All-American football teams. He was the 1966 recipient of the Thorp Award.

DANIELLE GALLAGHER: A pure scorer in both basketball and lacrosse, Gallagher graduated from Manhasset High School in 1985 and was a four-year varsity member in both sports. She became the first U.S. Lacrosse All-American selected from Long Island in 1984.

SCOTTIE GRAHAM: A 1987 graduate of Long Beach High School who excelled in football, wrestling and lacrosse. Graham captured All-Long Island and All-American football honors as a senior running back and went on to play for Ohio State and the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. On the wrestling mat, he was a 1987 New York State champion.

STEVEN HUNTE: A 1973 graduate of Bellmore JFK High School, Hunte dominated on the wrestling mat with a varsity record of 101-4-1, including 58-0 with 43 pins to close out. He was a three-time Section VIII champion and a two-time New York State champion.

JOHN MACKEY: This Hempstead High School 1959 grad was a three-sport star and awarded the Thorp Award in 1958. During his time on the gridiron and basketball court, the Tigers lost a total of only four games — two in each sport. Mackey was also a New York State champion in the pole vault.

DON McCAULEY: A 1967 graduate of Garden City High School, McCauley played baseball and football. He was a varsity member for three years in each sport, and was named All-North Shore and All-County in both. He still holds the Garden City record for the longest touchdown catch (97 yards) in school history.

DON McPHERSON: The 1983 graduate of West Hempstead High School had a stellar football career. In his senior year, McPherson, the Thorp Award winner, threw for 1,165 yards and ran for 1,055 yards. On defense, he picked off 10 passes. He went on to become an All-American quarterback at Syracuse University.

BILLY WILSON: Arguably the greatest athlete in the history of Lawrence High School. He was the first African-American to play football for the school and was named All Scholastic in 1942-1944. He won the Thorp Award in 1943. In all, Wilson won 16 varsity letters.

COACHES

RUSS CELLAN: Freeport High School’s head football coach for 31 years has an overall coaching record of 213-98-3. Under his direction, the Red Devils have won seven Nassau County titles, five Long Island championships and five Rutgers Cups.

PETER CERRONE: Has served as the Farmingdale High School girls’ basketball coach for 37 years and has guided the Lady Dalers to five county titles and two L.I. crowns. He is the only coach in the county to amass over 500 career wins.

GEORGE A. CRAIG: One of the all-time greats, Craig was the Baldwin High School Athletic Director from 1929-64. He also coached multiple sports. The football team won 131 games under his direction, winning the county title and Rutgers Cup in 1948 and 1953. He won three South Shore Class A crowns in basketball.

BECKY CRAWFORD: She made her mark across three sports, coaching at three high schools. Beginning in 1971, she coached track and field and volleyball at West Hempstead High School. She led the track teams to six division titles, one county title and the New York State championship in 1974. Her volleyball record was 461-87 and her squads won two L.I. titles.

ANGELO GIUGLIANO: From 1969-1983, he coached one of the most successful high school football programs in Nassau history. During his tenure at New Hyde Park, Giugliano led his team to a 97-25-1 record. His squads won seven league and three county titles. His 1977 and 1983 teams won the Rutgers Cup.

CAROL ANN HABEEB-KIEL: She has been the girls’ volleyball coach at Massapequa High School since 1988. Her teams won a county championship 17 straight years from 2000-16. From 2004-16, the Lady Chiefs went undefeated in league matches with a 218-0 record.

BERNARD HINTZ: From 1972-2006, all Hintz’ boys’ soccer teams at The Wheatley School did was win. With 326 victories, he holds the Nassau record for most wins in a career. He led his teams to NYS titles in 1997 and 2004.

FRANCINE NOCELLA: From 1973-1992, Nocella’s volleyball and softball teams at Wantagh High School dominated. On the volleyball court, she led her teams to a 278-59 record, including four county championships. In softball, Nocella had a career record of 321-86-1, including five county crowns, a Long Island title, and a regional title.

STEVE SHIPPOS: He coached premier wrestling teams at Baldwin High School in his 35 years and totaled 355 career wins, four dual meet county championships, and a NYS title in 1986. Shippos coached four state wrestling champions and over 20 county champions.

KENNETH SICOLI : For 33 years, the East Meadow High School baseball program flourished under the leadership of Sicoli. His career record was 501-281-10, and he was named “Coach of the Year” 15 times. The Jets won 14 conference championships, appeared in seven Nassau finals, and won three, including the Long Island and NYS titles in 1997.